These so-called hubs are not proper libraries

I wish to protest strongly about the continued cutting of Cardiff library services, as mentioned in the Echo (May 14).

The article mentions that, if followed, the planned cuts would leave only one library in Cardiff dedicated to books, the rest becoming “hubs”.

As anyone who has visited a current hub will know, they are no longer libraries, as the staff have been drastically reduced and the housing staff there have little or no interest in books.

The Central Library hub is already too noisy due to the housing floor, so extending this approach across the city would be a disaster for people who care about a dedicated library service.

I would urge Cardiff council not to continue this hollowing out of the library service, and not to introduce services that compete against each other into the same building.

Stephen Jenkins

Cardiff

Was day such a success?

WalesOnline was proudly extolling the “success” of Sunday, May 13, car-free day in Cardiff city centre and surrounding areas, promoted by Sustrans Cymru and Cardiff council.

By success, I take it that they mean the amount of vehicles turned away by an army of council workers employed on premium time to refuse access to the centre and surrounding areas.

Can WalesOnline also do a survey of how much extra footfall was directed into the centre and how much extra percentage of takings increased for that day?

It would interesting to justify the increase in footfall and takings that can then be directly attributed to the council, in conjunction with Sustrans Cymru’s decision to ban all but emergency vehicles from the city centre.

While they’re at it can they also conduct a survey of how many disabled people, who rely on wheelchairs, actually managed to gain entry to the city centre, to attend their usual business of attending church services and doing their shopping.

CT Webb

Canton, Cardiff

Which world leader is most like a wolf?

REPORTEDLY, President Macron of France recently visited a primary school in his country where he played the role of narrator in a performance of Peter and the Wolf, a well-known musical piece by Russian composer, Prokofiev (1891-1953).

Could one imagine a British politician doing something similar and, if so, which individuals? Boris Johnson is a name which comes to mind but there could be others. And to relate this fictional narrative to the real world, which individual would the wolf personify? President Trump perhaps, whose political status outside the US must be at rock-bottom.

In the story Peter apparently triumphs over the wolf who is killed. Real world outcomes are more likely to see the wolf triumphing over Peter, or Goliath over David.

Life is not a fairy tale, as even the quite recently-elected President Macron surely realises from his trans-Atlantic visit, Peter may not be the winner here, alas.

Michael O’Neill

Penarth

Border conundrum

The Irish border is grabbing a lot of the Brexit headlines but what will happen with the Ireland/Wales border? We have Irish entry points into Wales at Holyhead, Fishguard and Pembroke Dock amongst others. What is planned for this border?